Ave Xia Rem Y

~~~

Thanks to the puppeteers and the family they helped, word of Liu Jin and Ni Cai’s skills as healers quickly spreads throughout the small village. People start bringing them their sick and wounded, and soon a small crowd forms around them on the street. It saves them the trouble of visiting every house, though they still go to those who are too sick to move.

From beginning to end, including the time it takes them to prepare the medicine, it all takes a little over two hours.

“That was most impressive,” Firm Shadow tells him when it is all over. He and Liu Jin are sitting on one of the roofs. Below them, one can hear the merry voices of the villagers. City Lord Chu told him there was no laughter here, but the sudden recovery of so many of their sick has given them something to celebrate.

Liu Jin is happy for them.

“I did not expect to see Direct Resonance wielded with such skill in a place like this.”

Liu Jin glances at Firm Shadow out of the corner of his eye. The puppeteer is looking down at the streets where Ni Cai and Alarming Shadow have gotten caught in the celebration.

“The way you say it implies you have seen it done before,” Liu Jin replies.

“All the best doctors use direct resonance,” Firm Shadow says as though it should be obvious. “They rely on their own skill to refine ingredients because they don’t believe furnaces are precise enough to meet their standards. It is the same for you, is it not?”

That is not the case for Liu Jin at all.

Liu Jin uses direct resonance because that is what his father taught him, and his master later continued those teachings. It is simply part of how he was raised. By the time he had access to high-quality furnaces, the habit was already far too ingrained into him to consider using them.

The more Liu Jin looks back on his upbringing, the more he realizes how decidedly abnormal it was.

Of course, Liu Jin does not intend to explain all that to someone he just met.

“You could say that,” Liu Jin says while taking note of the fact that Firm Shadow has seen direct resonance used before. That is definitely not normal.

Other than his master, Liu Jin has not met a single doctor who uses direct resonance. Even in the Eternal Flame Clan, someone as important as Lady Ling had not known about it. The Elders are the only people Liu Jin has met that recognized the method by name. That’s how rare it is.

And yet, Firm Shadow speaks of direct resonance with familiarity and takes it for granted that a good doctor would use it.

For once, Liu Jin is not the person in the conversation unaware of his abnormality.

“I believe you promised to tell me of Murong Bang and the lands he rules over,” Liu Jin says instead of pressing the subject. As long as Firm Shadow does not realize he gave something away, he’ll keep letting things slip.

“You really are curious about it, aren’t you?”

“I have heard and seen so many things I cannot be anything other than curious. Murong Bang’s men fight like madmen. Is it any wonder I wish to understand how he cultivates such fanaticism?”

“Fanaticism,” Firm Shadow says, tasting the word. “I am not sure if that is the right word for it, friend, though there are certainly some that must feel that way.”

Liu Jin and Firm Shadow are sitting with their backs to the sun, which has not yet sunk into the horizon. When Firm Shadow raises his arms over his head, Liu Jin can see the shadows cast by his fingers projected on the roof in front of them.

“Imagine a boy,” Firm Shadows says as his hands create the shadow of a person. “He has no father or mother. No family to call his own. He lives on the streets, looking through people’s garbage to survive.”

As Firm Shadow speaks, the shadow of the boy looks left and right. There are people around him, but they all turn away. He walks alone and picks scraps from the ground.

“Impressive,” Liu Jin says.

“The first stories were told through shadows,” Firm Shadow says. “Shadow around a fire. Shadows on the walls of caves. We use puppets because people are used to puppet shows, but this is the true way. Now, let us continue.”

The boy finds a small pouch of gold on the floor and picks it up. Suddenly, a group of boys fall upon him and take the money. The boys have no time to enjoy their ill-gotten gains, however. A larger man appears, stabs them with a sword, and walks off with the treasure.

“The boy is not protected by the law. Crime is common and seen as necessary to survive. Nothing he has is his own because he cannot protect it. Every day he faces anarchy. Society stripped of any veneer of civility. Men reduced to starving beasts. In that sort of place, there is only one source of stability. I am sure you can guess what it is.”

The boy, now older, appears before a soldier and kneels down, pressing his head against the ground. When he rises, he is wearing the same armor as the soldier.

“The army does not protect the people. Rather, those who join the army obtain protection. It is a fitting place for the desperate, which is everyone.”

The boy is replaced by multiple soldiers with bottles in their hands and multiple women surrounding them.

“Wine, cultivation resources, women. Anything you can think of. The higher up one goes, the more benefits one receives. The highest-ranking members of the army live in utter luxury. However, such a luxurious life does not come cheap.”

The boy, now a soldier, battles and kills his enemies. At first, he hesitates, but the more he kills, the more confidence he gains. Eventually, the confidence becomes satisfaction, and he leaps into battle with a grin on his face.

“Murong Bang’s men must kill what Murong Bang wants dead. Some are hesitant at first. Some eagerly leap into it. It does not matter. The more they kill, the more they are rewarded, and so, they learn to revel in the killing and even envy those who kill more.”

Sickening.

Liu Jin listens to Firm Shadow’s story with a calm face, yet his insides squirm, and his nails dig into his palms.

“However, failure is the end of it.”

The soldier loses his weapons. He loses his women and his drinks. He trembles surrounded by enemies. A looming shadow appears above him, and the soldier turns back to the lost child he started as.

“To fail Murong Bang is to return to what they were. It is to be weak and powerless, left at the mercy of the world. Murong Bang has neither the time nor the inclination to punish every soldier personally. He does not need to. The world he created will do it for him, and fear of that world makes his soldiers struggle to the bitter end.”

Emperors turn the world around them into their image.

Liu Jin had known that but had not considered how far it could be taken when an emperor controls a third of a country.

“It is not fanaticism that guides his men, friend. It’s fear and desperation.”

Fear and desperation. It is similar to what he heard from Lei Kong, yet the details are not quite right. Maybe Firm Shadow is lying for the sake of creating a good story. Maybe Lei Kong never had a good perspective of the life of a common soldier due to his high cultivation level and relative closeness to Murong Bang.

Or maybe something has changed.

“That was wonderfully told,” Liu Jin says honestly.

“Thank you.” Firm Shadow smiles and nods. “It is to have one’s craft recognized.”

“It deserves to be recognized. However, I am left with a question after hearing your story. How does Murong Bang get cultivation resources for his entire army?”

General Nie Dan is allied with the Eternal Flame Clan and trades with them. However, Murong Bang seems to primarily operate as a raider. He is limited by what he can produce and what he can steal.

“A good question, friend, but your guess is as good as mine.”

No.

Liu Jin’s guess is better because Liu Jin knows something Firm Shadow doesn’t. Liu Jin knows of a cave full of Purple-Veined Empyrean Crystals, a cave that once caused Murong Bang to attack Eastern Port City years ago.

If it hadn’t been for that…

“Did you go to Murong Bang’s territory because you knew it was a lawless place?” Liu Jin asks instead of further dwelling in his thoughts. “Did you think your criminals were more likely to hide there?”

Firm Shadow’s face goes blank.

“I believe I said I would not answer some questions.”

“You are free not to answer. I’ll ask all the same.”

“... that quality did factor into our calculations, but not in the way you’re thinking of. Simply put, we were looking for a place where death was commonplace. The people we are looking for would find those places… suitable.”

“...I see.”

“There’s also something else you might wish to know,” Firm Shadow adds. “Most of the enemies you’re likely to find around here are the dregs of Murong Bang’s army. People who are on their last chance.”

Liu Jin nods. He knew as much already.

“But that is not always the case. His raiders are what some would call a force to be reckoned with,” Firm Shadow says. “They are soldiers who have risen above the rabble. Because of that, they are held to a higher standard and fight fiercely to produce results. They ensure neither general feels too comfortable on the border.”

Liu Jin doubts it is possible to ever feel comfortable in a place like this.

“Be wary, friend. I have it on good authority that a group of raiders will come across this area sometime soon.”

Most likely, the puppeteers were welcomed by Murong Bang’s army once upon a time and learned of their movements. Considering how strong the two are, that is not surprising.

“I see. Thank you for the warning, friend. I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”

Firm Shadow looks at him with a puzzled expression. “I tell you there might be a group of raiders coming here, and you are not going to ask more questions?”

“You have told me as much as you could,” Liu Jin replies. It is his turn to shrug. “If you knew more or if you could tell me more, you’d have volunteered that information.”

“There is a limit to being trusting, friend. What if I was a spy giving you false information?”

“If you were a spy, you’d have killed me already.”

Liu Jin says it plainly, casually, and without fear.

Firm Shadow goes absolutely silent.

“You are stronger than I. Much stronger. That is the feeling I have gotten for a while,” Liu Jin explains. “When you are forced to stand before people much stronger than you multiple times, you learn to recognize it. The sense you could be killed at any moment. That the only thing that stands between death and you is a whim. To have everything you are put at the mercy of another. That is what it means to be weak. I am very familiar with that feeling. You’d have killed me if you were a spy. If you were an enemy, you wouldn’t have bothered with this town. You’d already be in the fortress, killing everyone.”

Liu Jin thinks a little and adds, “By the way, it would be better if you left this place. I will be reporting what you have told me, and I’d rather avoid the complications of what would happen if someone more forceful than I tried to interrogate you or your friend.”

“...It is a pity we will not be able to put on a play tomorrow, but you speak with sense. In return, I’ll tell you this. I am stronger than you, friend. That much is true, but I do not wish to fight you.”

“I thank you for your kindness.”

Firm Shadow shakes his head.

“No. You misunderstand. This is no kindness. Have you not noticed Alarming Shadow has kept his distance from you all this time? How hostile he has been from the start? The strong do not need to keep their distance from the weak, yet he keeps his distance from you. The strong do not need to be wary of the weak, yet he is wary of you. That is because you reek of danger, friend. My senses tell me I am stronger than you, but they also tell me that you shouldn’t be crossed carelessly. It is a contradiction, yet I must acknowledge it as true.”

“Oh.”

Liu Jin shouldn’t be surprised, but he is.

How utterly naive of him.

~~~

Liu Jin and Ni Cai return to Ox Storm Fortress and report what they have learned.

“You should have brought those two for questioning!” The commander of Ox Storm Fortress yells at him.

Liu Jin can tell the man wants to say more but doesn’t dare to. He might be a Thousand-Man commander in charge of the entire fortress, but he is also smart enough to realize that Liu Jin is the stronger one between the two. Instead, the man contents himself with sending soldiers to look for the puppeteers.

Liu Jin doubts they will find anything.

“You gave away too much information to those people, Brother Qing,” Ni Cai tells him some time later. Liu Jin appreciates that Ni Cai has waited until they’re alone to discuss this.

“Is that what you think?” Liu Jin asks him.

“Of course! Putting aside the matter of giving away your supplies to the villagers, you told those two everything but barely got scraps of information in return. What does it matter if a special force of Murong Bang will be on its way sooner or later? Everyone has told us we should expect nothing but combat here, so why should that be useful information?!” Ni Cai pauses and adds, “No offense intended.”

“None at all. One of the reasons I kept you at my side is because you are one of the people more likely to speak up if you disagreed with me,” Liu Jin tells him. “Most people have only heard heavily exaggerated rumors about me. You saw me almost die against Qu Rou.”

The look Ni Cai gives him is perfectly blank.

“I appreciate Brother Qing’s compliment, but I worry that Brother Qing thinks that is somehow less impressive.”

“Anyway!” Liu Jin clears his throat. “What I told them were things they would have found out eventually. Meanwhile, we found out quite a bit about them. More than they wanted us to know.”

Ni Cai looks at him dubiously. “Did we?”

“For starters, they are from the other side of the Dead Plains.”

“What?!”

Liu Jin winces at Ni Cai’s volume.

“Not so loud.”

“When did we find that out?” Ni Cai hisses.

“They were not from this country. That much is certain. If people that strong had grown up here, they would already be affiliated with one of the three Heavenly Generals,” Liu Jin explains. “Even in the surrounding countries, there are few Sects that could have produced such strong cultivators. Fewer still would bother teaching their disciples anything regarding puppetry. And the way Firm Shadow took it for granted that a good doctor would use direct resonance limits the suspect pool further.”

“That’s still not enough for Brother Qing’s conclusion.”

“They were looking for people in places of death. Can you think of anyone who fits that description?”

The way Ni Cai sobers up immediately tells him he is thinking the same thing.

Death Fashioning Scripture.

“Don’t say their name,” Liu Jin tells him. “He told me that because he never imagined I’d think of someone from the other side. Most people wouldn’t. If we hadn’t faced their arts in the Dead Plains, we wouldn’t even know their name. Of course, even that is not enough to be certain. I wasn’t sure until I saw him tell a story through shadows.”

The shadows had been too vivid. Too fluid and detailed to be merely projections from his hands.

There are three major powers in the lands beyond the Dead Plains. The Peerless Heavenly Sword Peak and Death Fashioning Scripture are two.

The Temple of the Thousand Shadows is another.

“What does it mean?” Ni Cai asks him in a quiet voice. “For there to be people from… that side here? What does it mean?”

“In the worst-case scenario, we might be looking at a situation where two of the major powers from that side are about to clash in the Storm Dragon Empire.”

~~~